MODI PHONES HASINA, GREETS PASSAGE OF LAND BILL

Tribune Online Report

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a phone call to his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and conveyed greetings on the landmark occasion of passing of the India-Bangladesh land swap deal.

In his Twitter post, Modi said: “Spoke to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and conveyed my greetings to the people of Bangladesh on this landmark occasion.”

The post has been made on Thursday evening, immediately after the Lok Sabha passed the Constitutional Amendment bill on the India-Bangladesh land swap.

Regarding the historic move of the Indian Parliament, he wrote: “Today a historic milestone has been reached in India-Bangladesh relations after the passing of the Constitutional Amendment by Parliament.”

“This would contribute to a stable & peaceful boundary, better management & coordination of the border & will lead to enhanced security as well,” tweeted the Indian PM.

Noting that the move reflects the collective will of the nation to build constructive relations with the neighbours, Modi further wrote: “My thanks to all the political parties for their cooperation, as also to the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura & West Bengal.”

He also convayed gratitude to the NDA allies for the support and co-operation that led to the passage of the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Bill.

“I thanked these leaders for their support in the historic passage of the Bill that will mark a fresh chapter in our ties with Bangladesh.”

The Constitution Amendment bill on the India-Bangladesh land swap has been passed in both the upper and lower houses of the Indian parliament.

The LBA Bill is aimed at redrawing the international boundary between India and Bangladesh by exchanging areas of adverse possession and enclaves along with population on either side, thus making the highly incongruous and porous Indo-Bangla border more manageable.